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House Passes Bill to Promote Human Rights in Vietnam (2436)

WASHINGTON — A bill to encourage freedom and respect for human rights, including religious liberty, in communist-run Vietnam was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 11.

“It is imperative that the United States Government send an unequivocal message to the Vietnamese regime that it must end its human rights abuses against its own citizens,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who authored the bill.

Smith, who chairs a House subcommittee on human rights, explained that the legislation would place limitations on U.S. aid to Vietnam until the government improves its human rights record, while at the same time allowing humanitarian assistance to continue as needed.

In a discussion on the House floor, Smith pointed to a hearing held earlier this year, at which witnesses testified about the nation’s continuing and sometimes increasing persecution of religious and political dissenters, as well as the Vietnamese government’s failure to investigate and persecute human trafficking violations.

The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2012 states that Vietnam’s “transition toward greater economic freedom and trade has not been matched by greater political freedom and substantial improvements in basic human rights for Vietnamese citizens.”

It also observes that the U.S. had agreed to Vietnam’s acceptance into the World Trade Organization in 2006 “amidst assurances that the Government of Vietnam was steadily improving its human rights record and would continue to do so.”

However, six years later, actions taken by the Communist Party of Vietnam continue to raise serious concerns about respect for human rights within the country, it says.

The legislation lists examples of the arbitrary arrests and imprisonments of numerous individuals — including Father Nguyen Van Ly — who has peacefully advocated religious freedom and human rights in the country.

It also notes “a pattern of violent responses by the Government to peaceful prayer vigils and demonstrations by Catholics” whose property had been confiscated by the state.

“Protesters have been harassed, beaten, and detained and church properties have been destroyed,” the bill says.

“Catholics also continue to face some restrictions on selection of clergy, the establishment of seminaries and seminary candidates, and individual cases of travel and church registration,” it adds.

In one 2010 case, more than 100 villagers in a Catholic parish in Da Nang were injured and at least three were killed in the violence that erupted as police tried to prevent a religious burial in the village cemetery.

The legislation also draws attention to the persecution of other religious minorities in the country, as well as attempts to intimidate and silence political dissenters and continuing problems with human trafficking.

The bill, which drew bipartisan support, prohibits an increase in non-humanitarian assistance to the Vietnamese government unless it makes “substantial progress” towards securing human rights within the country.

These improvements would require a repeal of laws that prohibit peaceful demonstrations and “unsanctioned religious activity,” as well as the release of religious and political prisoners.

In addition, the legislation would demand significant government improvement in the area of respecting fundamental rights, including the freedom of religious expression.

It would also require the Vietnamese government to respect the human rights of ethnic minorities and improve its work to fight human trafficking.

While blocking an increase in U.S. funds, the bill would allow for increased humanitarian aid for food, water and medicine if deemed necessary.

Smith praised the passage of the bill, which he described as an important step in implementing “effective measures towards improving human rights in Vietnam.”

Comments

What a band of hypocrites they are…passing a bill to protect human rights and religious freedom in some other country but not the USA? Is this an episode of the Twilight Zone? To CeCe, it’s not hatred—it’s moral outrage; there is a difference. So you can put aside the race issue and consider getting more worked up about a president who promotes the slaughter of innocents in the womb…and outside the womb, if the abortion fails.

Posted by CeCi Castillo on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 5:39 PM (EST):

Maybe Rep. Chris Smith R-NJ and others like him need to send their own sons and daughters to fight immoral wars. Then they wouldn’t be so gungho about sticking their noses in the affairs of other countries.

Posted by Dee on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 3:13 PM (EST):

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. With the abortion rate in this country and Massachusetts trying to pass a euthanasia bill…. Let’s remove the plank in our own eye first America. God have mercy on us.

Posted by Deacon Mark on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 1:21 PM (EST):

We must be willing to remove the plank from our own eyes and not turn our eyes onto the religious freedom for others and be blind to our own rights being questioned or forgotten in the fog. How are we to accomplish anything if we are not willing to set a true example for others to follow? Jesus Christ did not preach the Gospel, he lives it for all to see.

Posted by manticore on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 12:32 PM (EST):

The USA made a complete and utter hash of trying to impose democracy on Iraq. Isn’t it time for the US to stop trying to dictate to other states how they should arrange themselves ? Such ventures are seldom if ever successful, they are profoundly self-contradictory, and they make the US look, not benign, but narcissistic and imperialist. North Vietnam does not have a very nice regime, certainly - but it does not follow that meddling in its internal affairs by a foreign power is wise, productive, or indeed Christian. As the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Posted by CeCi Castillo on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 12:12 PM (EST):

JMJ Your hatred of President Obama is bordering on the psychotic. Get a grip will ya??

Posted by bill bannon on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 11:10 AM (EST):

Good reporting. The Church though centuries ago permitted Portugal and Spain to pick its own Bishops under the padroado system and in China too just north of them ( lasted til 1999 in Macao).. She might think of giving Asians something she did for centuries as to Euro nations…to get something in return ( otherwise the Church is insensitive to “face” in Asian dealmaking.). Also, John Paul’s anti death penalty position ( de facto) is unnecessary blockage to China relations since their intelligence people could show the Church Gen.9:6 and Rom.13:4…which obtained clearly in the Church and on Vatican City State law til 1969.

Posted by JMJ on Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 8:36 AM (EST):

What about sending a bill to the dictator-in-chief demanding Human Rights here in America once again? +JMJ+

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